Thursday, September 13, 2012

Update!

This is simply a quick postal service to allow you lot know virtually to a greater extent than or less improvements to resourceaholic.com in addition to to a greater extent than or less upcoming events.

New Menus
Three years agone I ready my resource libraries, where I portion hundreds of hand-picked resources for Key Stage 3, iv in addition to 5. I exercise these libraries everyday when I'm planning lessons. My aim is to ensure that teachers tin chop-chop in addition to easily access free, high character resources for all secondary maths topics.

Over the concluding yr I've added lots of resources for the novel GCSE. I worry that my libraries are becoming difficult to navigate, in addition to thence I've added to a greater extent than or less novel functionality.

At the overstep of each resources library, you lot volition immediately discovery 'quick links'. The lawsuit below is taken from my number library. These links volition accept you lot direct to resources for each topic, which should relieve you lot fourth dimension when you're planning lessons. I promise you lot discovery this helpful.

I own got resources libraries for number, algebra, shape, data, core AS, core A2, statistics, further in addition to mechanics. The best agency to access my resources libraries is from the principal card at the overstep of the website. By September I volition issue a resources library for the novel Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 score too.

Other pages that mightiness assist you lot discovery what you're looking for on my weblog include the blog archive, the gems page, in addition to the side menus. There's a search tool on the sidebar too.

Upcoming Events
On my Conferences Page I listing maths conferences inward the electrical current academic year.

On Lord's Day seventh May I'm going to Stuart Price's Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 score effect Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

Lots to await forwards to!

Popular Posts
Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:
  • GCSE ix - 1 revision
  • Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

    On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

    On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

    As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

    I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

    Lots to await forwards to!

    Popular Posts
    Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:
    • Higher GCSE revision
    • Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

      On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

      On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

      As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

      I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

      Lots to await forwards to!

      Popular Posts
      Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:
      • A score revision
      • Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

        On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

        On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

        As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

        I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

        Lots to await forwards to!

        Popular Posts
        Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:

        And did you lot select deal of my recent posts?
        • Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

          On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

          On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

          As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

          I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

          Lots to await forwards to!

          Popular Posts
          Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:
          • Papers Society
          • Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

            On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

            On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

            As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

            I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

            Lots to await forwards to!

            Popular Posts
            Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:
            • Ultra Outreach Project
            • Maths inward the Sticks. I attended this effect concluding yr in addition to it was actually proficient - especially because it includes a delicious roast dinner in addition to a drinking glass of wine!

              On Sabbatum 24th June I'm going to La Salle's #mathsconf10. This is taking house inward London (but non Central London similar concluding fourth dimension - those of you lot coming past times train, banker's complaint that it's all the agency out inward Zone 6). I e'er taste La Salle's conferences. I'm thinking virtually presenting at this one.

              On Tuesday 27th June I'm excited to hold upwardly going to Alton Towers for the JustMaths Conference. Representatives from the awarding bodies volition hold upwardly out inward strength at this effect in addition to it volition hold upwardly a proficient chance to accept an in-depth await at the novel GCSE shortly afterward the showtime sitting.

              As I similar maths conferences in addition to thence much, I volition likely become to #mathsconf11 on eighth July inward Cardiff too.

              I also innovation to organise to a greater extent than or less other maths teachers' trip to Bletchley Park - I'll render to a greater extent than information on this soon.

              Lots to await forwards to!

              Popular Posts
              Finally, simply to lift that my revision posts are getting a lot of attending at the minute equally assay flavor approaches:

              Thanks for reading! I promise to come across you lot at an effect this summer.









Yes, Merely Why?

I'm certain you've already heard almost Ed Southall's novel majority 'Yes, But Why? Teaching for Understanding inward Mathematics'. It was published less than a calendar month agone too is already on its tertiary impress run. It has been incredibly good received yesteryear both main too secondary teachers - everyday I run into tweets almost how useful it is.

I yell back a twain of years agone when Ed (@solvemymaths) get-go had the thought of writing this book. There was no bailiwick cognition handbook for trainee maths teachers - it was a clear gap inward the market. By writing one, Ed has provided something that maths pedagogy badly needed - an expertly written reference manual for mathematics teaching.

People assume that a maths grade is sufficient bailiwick cognition for teaching secondary mathematics, simply there's a lot to a greater extent than to it than that. In maths, bailiwick cognition includes knowing mutual misconceptions, effective teaching approaches, choice methods, underlying concepts, links betwixt topics, interesting maths facts too stories, too more... Even the most experienced maths teachers with high levels of subject-specific expertise tin develop their cognition further.

Since reading Ed's majority I've noticed a subtle shift inward my teaching style. For instance I establish myself excitedly talking to my Year xi course of instruction almost the departure betwixt an ellipse too an oval. They were surprisingly fascinated - 1 of them was actually pleased with himself when he spotted the link to the discussion ovary. And inward a recent lesson on geometric proof, I talked for a land almost Euclid - it was the longest menstruum of quiet I've had from that class! They truly seemed enthralled. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 highly knowledgeable instructor is confident too engaging. That's the sort of instructor I desire to be.

In this post I've featured a few extracts from 'Yes, But Why? Teaching for Understanding inward Mathematics' to give you lot an thought of why it's worth buying.

Statistical Graphs
Histograms are actually unpopular with GCSE teachers. I'm a statistician too fifty-fifty I acknowledge that I don't await forrad to teaching this topic. Ed explains real clearly why histograms role frequency density instead of frequency - inward fact I project design to role his examples side yesteryear side fourth dimension I instruct it.


Ed's majority tells me that histograms were developed yesteryear English linguistic communication mathematician Karl Pearson inward around 1910. This is of personal involvement to me because Karl Pearson was the human being who founded the world's get-go academy statistics subdivision at University College London inward 1911 (the real same subdivision where I did my statistics grade xc years later).

Given that maths teachers ofttimes discovery statistics hard to instruct (or even, dare I say, non enjoyable...), I intend that the statistics chapter of Ed's majority volition live on incredibly useful. In the subdivision on pie charts, Ed shares a goodness instance of a useless pie chart, too encourages teachers to utter over the pros too cons of each type of statistical graph with students.


Teacher Tips
Practical tips characteristic regularly throughout the book. This tip regarding expanse is real sensible - bespeak students to discovery the expanse of a parallelogram when alone the base of operations too perpendicular meridian convey been provided seems a lilliputian silly.
Deriving y = mx + c
I'm guilty of telling students that the equation of a remove occupation is y = mx + c without telling them why. If they know that slope is 'change inward y ÷ change inward x', too hence it's pretty elementary to derive y = mx + c, every bit shown below.


This is obvious, if you lot halt too think, yet I've never shared this with my students. I gauge the work is that for teachers, right from twenty-four hr menstruum 1 of their training, in that place is no fourth dimension to halt too think.

Measurements
The majority features a listing of odd units of measure, too lots of other wonderfully geeky mathematical trivia. I beloved this stuff!


'Yes, But Why? Teaching for Understanding inward Mathematics' is informative, witty, enjoyable too incredibly useful. It's available to purchase now. If you're all the same undecided, you lot tin preview the get-go chapter here. Let me know what you lot think.








Wednesday, September 12, 2012

5 Maths Gems #71

Welcome to my 71st gems post. This is where I percentage simply about of the latest news, ideas as well as resources for maths teachers.

1. GCSE Revision Resources
Grant (@AccessMaths) has lately published loads of swell GCSE revision resources. You tin banking concern gibe out the total collection at accessmaths.co.uk.

Resources include Crossover Problems, Octagon Revision Mats as well as Pentagon Problems. These all piece of employment good printed on A3.

2. Desmos Geometry
The awesome people at Desmos have created Desmos Geometry. It looks similar it volition live simply every bit slick, accessible as well as user-friendly every bit their graphing calculator, as well as thence this is exciting news. It's currently inwards Beta as well as yous tin read to a greater extent than most it here. I'm looking forwards to seeing how it develops.

Do banking concern gibe out Desmos's Polygraph a twosome of years ago, as well as accept since used Waterline alongside swell success.

3. Always, Sometimes, Never
Some classic maths activities never larn old. I cry upwards the start fourth dimension I did an Always, Sometimes, Never action from the Standards Unit in my NQT year. It generated vivid mathematical give-and-take as well as was a actually worthwhile lesson. Sarah Carter lately shared simply about other swell instance of an Always, Sometimes, Never action for pedagogy averages:


There are simply about expert Always, Sometimes, Never activities on MathsPad, Nrich and TES. And hither are simply about examples that were shared on Twitter past times Mark McCourt (@EmathsUK) a field ago:



4. Pick a Card
The Underground Mathematics squad at Cambridge accept been busy expanding their collection of H5N1 score resources. In this 'Pick a card...' exercise, the content of ane menu is revealed past times clicking on it as well as students accept to create upwards one's hear whether they tin piece of employment out the residual of the answers. There are simply about lovely follow upwards questions to consider, such every bit "Which menu would live the easiest to start from?" as well as "Does each menu ever give plenty information to uniquely lay the quadratic function?". If yous learn H5N1 score produce banking concern gibe out these fantabulous resources.
5. Perpendicular Gradient
I shared an animation inwards Gems 60 which demonstrates the human relationship betwixt the gradients of perpendicular lines. I've at ane time institute a video which shows the same thing. This is actually clear as well as useful. Thanks to @MathWithMonkeys for sharing it.



Update
Hurrah for the holidays! I've been away to sunny Devon alongside my describe of piece of employment solid unit of measurement over the lastly few days. I'm going dorsum to schoolhouse on 18th Apr for the lastly essay countdown alongside my Year 11s, 12s as well as 13s.

Since my lastly gems shipping service I've blogged v times - here's what I've written, inwards instance yous missed anything:
  • Yes, But Why? which features extracts from Ed Southall's novel book
  • Update! which provides an update on recent improvements to my resources libraries
  • Papers Society which is most something I'm trying alongside my Year 11s this twelvemonth - this post appeared inwards Schools Week's 'Top Blogs of the Week' column
  • Ultra Outreach Project which is most an chance for complimentary enrichment inwards high-PP schools 
  • #mathsconf9 which is a write-up of the Bristol maths conference - this seems similar ages agone now!

I characteristic every bit a particular invitee co-host inwards the adjacent episode of Colin Beveridge as well as Dave Gale's podcast Wrong, But Useful. It's out afterwards this calendar week as well as thence produce accept a listen. Speaking of podcasts, banking concern gibe out Craig Barton's latest podcast alongside Dani Quinn - his most controversial ane yet!

Don Steward has been busy posting novel resources lately, including simply about tasks for novel GCSE topics which volition live added to my resources libraries this week. I've at ane time added all of @taylorda01's 'Increasingly Difficult Questions' to my libraries too. I also made ii novel resources of my own:

All of my resources are available to download from TES, as well as appear inwards my resources libraries.

Quadratic Points from Don Steward


Look out for simply about other circular of my Annual Gem Awards later this calendar month - the 3rd anniversary of my spider web log is fast approaching.









Maths Anxiety

A lot has been written close maths anxiety inwards children. I possess got a Year vii pupil who ever complains that he 'can't do it' earlier he's fifty-fifty tried. It's clear to me where his anxiety stems from - dissimilar his peers, he doesn't know his times tables well, which makes many elementary tasks (long multiplication, simplifying fractions etc) actually hard for him.

But this postal service isn't close maths anxiety inwards students. It's close maths anxiety inwards maths teachers. Whatever your job, when you lot stand upwardly up as well as tell you're an adept at something, you lot naturally experience roughly anxiety that you'll larn caught out. This isn't something unique to teaching. In my previous career inwards banking I oft worried that I'd travel asked a inquiry that I couldn't answer. 

I experience most of my maths anxiety on Twitter, where I worry close proverb something stupid as well as beingness publicly criticised past times clever mathematicians. But I also sometimes experience a combat of maths anxiety inwards the classroom. I'm willing to bet that roughly of you lot do too.

1. The 'stupid fault on the board' anxiety
I do this agency to a greater extent than than I should! It's harder than it looks to simultaneously solve a mathematical problem, write on the board, address a shape of 34 students, deal behaviour, as well as a thou other things all at the same time. It's fairly mutual for me to tell the release v as I write the release eight, as well as other as empty-headed things. When I taught at a girls' grammer schoolhouse my students didn't possess got much tolerance for empty-headed mistakes so I used to permit it larn to me, but right away my lovely students simply express joy amongst me, so I possess got to a greater extent than of a feel of humor close it.

It's goodness for students to reckon a existent somebody doing existent maths, as well as making mistakes inwards the same agency they do. It volition in all likelihood brand them experience ameliorate close their ain anxieties.
The worst thing is when no i notices, because that suggests that no i was paying attention! In a recent Year 12 lesson I made a mess of my solutions to a trigonometric equation (temporary craziness amongst the symmetry of a cosine graph) as well as no i said anything until after inwards the lesson when a pupil was looking dorsum over his notes. Was no i fifty-fifty next what I was doing on the board? That's to a greater extent than worrying than me making a fault inwards the get-go place!

2. The 'genius inwards the class' anxiety
It's taken me a piece to convey that roughly students may travel ameliorate at maths than me! Last twelvemonth I taught a actually clever Year thirteen Further Maths shape as well as they for sure kept me on my toes. Twice I had to tweet during a lesson to enquire for assist on questions they'd asked me!

Over the years I've got a lot ameliorate at proverb 'I'll mean value close it as well as larn dorsum to you' if I'm asked a specially tricky question. Then it's actually satisfying when I operate it out as well as am able to plough over them a goodness answer. 

3. The 'mind blank' anxiety
Often when I'm out for a repast amongst friends, they'll enquire me to carve upwardly the bill. Inevitably I'll possess got a full hear blank as well as completely forget how to do a elementary division. It tin travel hard to do mental maths nether pressure.
Of course, maths teachers are used to having maths problems sprung on them out of the blue. It's mutual for students to of a abrupt enquire you lot to banking enterprise gibe an reply or figure out where they went wrong. It's absolutely fine to convey a duo of minutes to hold off through their work. We set unnecessary pressure level on ourselves.

4. The 'I possess got no watch how to do this question' anxiety
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lovely colleague of mine was late teaching algebraic proof to Year xi when she got stumped on this example, which she'd taken from the AQA Teaching Guidance:

Prove that the production of 3 consecutive positive integers must ever travel a multiple of 6

She wrote n(n+1)(n+2) on the board and expanded it, but as well as then she got stuck. Her students waited piece she struggled to operate out what to do next. She gave upwardly as well as admitted she didn't know, as well as they said, "Miss, if you lot can't do it, what run a hazard possess got nosotros got?". She was embarrassed as well as frustrated after the lesson. She asked me how to do it - I only knew because I've seen a similar inquiry before. Things larn easier amongst experience.

5. The 'I've never taught this before' anxiety
I was seriously rubbish the get-go fourth dimension I taught C4 integration. Now I'm on my 5th fourth dimension teaching it, I'm a i thou 1000 times ameliorate - inwards fact I right away actually bask it.

The get-go fourth dimension nosotros instruct a novel topic, nosotros tin experience similar we're only i stride ahead of our students. There are roughly novel GCSE topics that many teachers haven't taught before. In this illustration it mightiness travel helpful to sentinel a video (eg Corbett Maths or Hegarty Maths) inwards advance - hearing roughly other instructor explicate a theme is actually goodness grooming for teaching.



If you lot endure from whatsoever maths instructor anxiety, I tin assure you lot that you're non alone. Here are a few words of advice: 
  • Admit to whatsoever empty-headed mistakes you lot brand inwards lessons, as well as travel relaxed close it. Encourage your students to tell you lot as shortly as they spot something.
  • I'm sure you're awesome at maths. Of course of pedagogy you lot are. It's crazy to fifty-fifty uncertainty that. Being goodness at maths isn't something that goes away amongst age. Sure, nosotros forget things, but we're smart plenty to alternative things upwardly quickly. One of the joys of maths is getting the correct answers, as well as you lot larn plenty of correct answers, so don't permit the strange empty-headed fault suck the fun out of it.
  • Mental arithmetics hear blanks inwards lessons are easily dealt amongst - simply throw the inquiry out to the class. Someone volition larn it right, as well as if non as well as then you've bought plenty fourth dimension to operate it out.
  • If you lot truly aren't confident amongst a theme as well as you lot brand errors that become beyond 'silly mistakes', as well as then you lot do demand to create that as a affair of priority. Perhaps a combat to a greater extent than practise inwards advance of the lesson would travel a goodness idea. The get-go fourth dimension I taught FP1 I completed all the examples as well as exercises earlier every lesson. It's fourth dimension consuming but important.
  • Don't permit your students know if you lot lack confidence or you lot don't know a theme well. It's actually of import that they trust you. I know a instructor who late told every rear at Parents Evening that she's an NQT as well as non alone sure what she's doing. This is non a goodness idea! It undermines your authority. Even if you lot don't experience confident as well as enthusiastic, you lot must come across as confident as well as enthusiastic during lessons.
  • Know that it gets ameliorate amongst experience, as well as that if things don't ever become to innovation now, don't worry - inwards a few years it volition travel easier. You'll withal brand mistakes inwards lessons sometimes, because you're human. And that's ok.





Gem Awards 2017

This calendar week it's the tertiary anniversary of resourceaholic.com. It's conk a tradition for me to grade the anniversary of my spider web log past times publishing an annual 'Gem Awards' post. Here I hold off dorsum at all the ideas I've shared inward my gems posts over the end twelvemonth together with request some of my favourites.

1. CPD Award
This abide by goes to Craig Barton, whose vivid podcasts accept been a really welcome improver to the basis of maths pedagogy over the end year. In his epic podcasts, Craig talks to a broad hit of people close teaching maths, from classroom teachers to basis famous pedagogy experts. Every episode gives us lots to intend about.
Special advert to La Salle Education for continuing to run affordable, accessible, high character conferences all twelvemonth round. I actually beloved their conferences together with am really grateful for everything they contribute to the evolution of the maths teaching community.

2. Best New Resources
The winner of this abide by is Gems 59 together with accept since added all the links to my resources libraries. These good written questions are tardily to use, printing nicely onto A5, together with come upward amongst answers.
Special advert to Edexcel who actually came to our rescue for some novel GCSE topics amongst their laid upward of Gems 64.

I should also advert my all fourth dimension favourite resources makers Don Steward together with MathsPad, who accept continued to make vivid resources all twelvemonth round.

3. Subject Knowledge Award
I intend that 1 of the most of import things a maths instructor tin hit the sack practise is continually lift their discipline knowledge, no thing how experienced they are. This abide by goes to instructor trainer Ed Southall, who is leading the agency on developing maths instructor discipline knowledge. His lately published majority 'here. Ed ofttimes delivers discipline noesis presentations at conferences together with has also lately started making videos which are good worth a look.



4. Best TES Resource Author
This abide by goes to Dan Walker, maker of outstanding resources for Key Stage three to 5. I wrote all close his resources inward this post together with thus practise accept a read to come across lots of wonderful examples.

5. Best New Website
This abide by goes to Clarissa Grandi - the artiest maths instructor I know. I wrote close her beautiful website Gems 57. It features classroom displays, creative lesson ideas together with extra-curricular activities.

Special advert to Darren Carter for his website mrcartermaths.com. It is super slick together with tardily to navigate, at in 1 lawsuit providing questions together with answers for busy maths teachers. And because the answers are together with thus accessible, it's a goodness revision tool for students to move at abode too.

6. Best Video
This abide by goes to the 'Gems 60. I showed it to my Year seven degree together with they had a 1 M 1000 questions close units afterwards! I'd never seen them together with thus interested inward anything before.



Special advert to 3Blue1Brown for their first-class hit of videos, including the vectors video that I enjoyed sharing amongst my Year 13s.

7. Best Problems
This abide by goes to Underground Mathematics for continuing to expand their collection of first-class H5N1 bird problems.

I should also advert Gem Awards 2015. I even together with thus relish next their Facebook posts - many of their problems are suitable for my students.

8. Best Teacher Support
The White Rose Maths Hub definitely deserves an abide by for the huge amount of back upward that they offering to schools all over the country. Their schemes of work for both principal together with secondary schools are actually useful. Their assessments are also excellent, together with they accept lately launched a collection of multiple selection questions on 1 of my favourite websites - diagnosticquestions.com. These questions are aimed at principal schools simply I regularly move them amongst my Year 7s.
Special advert goes to the Mathematical Association - their Twitter account is an absolute 'must follow' for maths teachers, keeping us all up-to-date on intelligence together with developments inward maths education.

9. Best Interactive Tool
This abide by goes to MathsPad for their first-class exterior angles tool. MathsPad has a groovy hit of character interactive tools for demonstrating concepts.


Special advert to the zoomable issue line on mathsisfun.com - my Year 7s were genuinely excited when I used it inward a house value lesson.

10. Lifetime Achievement
John Corbett is definitely every bit good immature to have a Lifetime Achievement Award! But I'm giving him 1 anyway. His awesome website this post. Thank y'all John - you're amazing!

That's it for the 2017 Gem Awards! What a fantastic collection of ideas together with resources. Thank y'all to everyone who tweets close what they've tried inward their classroom. It's together with thus inspirational. If y'all desire to read to a greater extent than Maths Gems, there's an index Gem Awards 2016 together with Gem Awards 2015 too.

Finally, land we're on the discipline of awards, I'd similar to state an enormous give thank y'all you to all of my readers for their ongoing support. I'm incredibly pleased to state that I won the Individual Education category at the Great Britain Blog Awards 2017. I intend this may hold out 1 of my greatest achievements ever, together with I couldn't hold out to a greater extent than happy. I'm genuinely grateful to all my readers.





Structured Revision Lessons

Revision flavor is upon us! I mainly instruct examination classes (Year 11, 12 together with 13) therefore examination grooming is currently a big focus for me. For Year 12 I experience a feel of urgency - I alone finished teaching the C2 specification yesterday together with their C1 examination is fast approaching. Eek.

Thankfully I finished teaching my Year 11s the GCSE specification at the goal of final term, leaving me a proficient twenty lessons for revision. I instruct a transcend develop - their target grades hit from five to 8 together with I hollo upwards their electrical flow grades in all likelihood hit from iv to 9.

Throughout the twelvemonth I've been drawing upwards a listing of topics that I request to reteach. The listing is really long! It includes indices, constructions, bounds, congruence, linear graphs together with algebraic fractions. This data generally came from mark mocks, plus the weekly quizzes we've done over the final 2 years. I too used AQA's revision list to banking enterprise jibe that I hadn't missed anything on the specification. 

Unlike previous years, I'm next a develop format inwards my Year xi revision lessons. Routine industrial plant good amongst my students. 

On arrival to each lesson they notice a Corbett Maths 5-a-day on their desk. This is printed on A5, double sided. On the front end is a develop of Higher questions, on the dorsum is Higher Plus. This combination is precisely the correct pitch for my students - fifty-fifty the strongest are finding the Higher Plus questions sufficiently challenging, therefore no i is getting bored. These 5-a-day exercises are perfect for getting students to revise a mixture of topics, including the topics that I can't devote an entire revision lesson to. When they larn stuck they inquire me for manage or confer amongst a friend. It takes quite a piece for my students to operate through these questions - a proficient xv to twenty minutes to consummate both sides. Then I become through the answers, briefly summarising the primal points for each of the topics covered.


This leaves me one-half the lesson to focus on a detail topic - for illustration i lesson final calendar week focused on circle theorems, or therefore other on similarity. I verbalize for most 10 to xv minutes, reminding my students of the primal points together with mutual misconceptions, together with running through an examination enquiry or two. Some years agone I realised the importance of this teacher-led instructional chemical factor of revision lessons. If they're struggling amongst a topic, they won't magically larn ameliorate without or therefore additional teaching.

I together with therefore plow over them xv to twenty minutes worth of practise questions focused on that topic. For illustration inwards my revision lesson on chemical compound measures they completed Papers Society. Churchill papers are quite challenging. Next calendar week I intend to start quizzing my course of report on facts together with formulae. But most of my lessons volition proceed to follow the format described above.

Three weeks together with counting until the outset GCSE exam!



Maths Exam Meme Posters from Paul Collins




Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Schools Calendar Week Article

I wrote an opinion piece for Schools Week - produce accept a read together with permit me know what you lot think.



This follows on from my article close maths instructor shortages together with the novel GCSE that was published inwards Schools Week inwards Dec 2014.







#Mathscpdchat - Twelvemonth Vii Topics

I'm hosting #mathscpdchat betwixt 7pm together with 8pm on Tuesday ninth May. We'll last discussing what topics are taught inward Year 7, together with inward what order. To bring together inward the discussion, delight tweet your thoughts, making certain yous include the hashtag #mathscpdchat inward your tweet. I'd beloved to encounter a screenshot of your school's Year seven curriculum together with take away heed what plant good together with what doesn't.

To start us off, hither are a few examples:

Don Steward sent me his Year seven curriculum, shown below.
Don believes that nosotros should ensure that Year seven is non only a repeat of Year 6. What strikes me most close his curriculum is the explorations that characteristic throughout the twelvemonth (notably inward the firstly ii weeks), together with the broad arrive at of attainment topics. From a student's perspective, there's lots of new, exciting mathematics here.

The White Rose Maths Hub has produced a really dissimilar Year seven Programme of Study - the overview is shown below. Much of Year seven is spent developing cardinal reveal concepts. The thought is that students who are successful amongst reveal are to a greater extent than confident mathematicians together with meliorate equipped to tackle the topics that follow. With 'mastery' existence all the rage at the moment, I intend that a lot of schools convey started moving towards this approach.
H5N1 few years agone I read close the didactics social club that Bruno Reddy developed during his fourth dimension at King Solomon Academy (he blogged close it here). At the fourth dimension I was struck yesteryear the contrast betwixt this curriculum together with the Key Stage three curriculum I was used to. Calculating the hateful features inward multiplication together with division. Proportion is paired amongst pie charts. Bruno wrote,
"You should discovery that to a greater extent than fourth dimension is given to reveal locomote at the kickoff of twelvemonth seven (especially times tables), nosotros pass i half-term at a fourth dimension didactics a theme rather than 2 weeks, approximately things are ‘missing’ (because they’re taught inward KS4), we’ve tried to carve upwardly minimally dissimilar concepts together with we’ve thought carefully close the social club things are taught inward together with so that all the spell we’re edifice on locomote on of prior learning."
Kangaroo Maths is a pop root of Schemes of Works. The instance below is for Year 7s working at the minimum expected measure at the goal of Key Stage 2. This is only the unit of measurement overview, yous tin encounter a lot to a greater extent than particular here.
In my ain schoolhouse nosotros are currently developing our Year seven curriculum. We tried something novel this twelvemonth but nosotros nonetheless demand to brand approximately tweaks. I felt that negatives numbers came likewise like shooting fish in a barrel inward the year, featuring at the goal of the summertime term. Changing a Year seven curriculum is a big undertaking equally it has a knock-on acquit upon on the Schemes of Work of all other twelvemonth groups. Assessments, together with perhaps other resources similar homework booklets, also demand to last re-written, which is actually fourth dimension consuming.

I'd beloved to take away heed close your experiences inward developing together with delivering Year seven curricula. Tell me how yous start the year, say me what topics link good together, together with say me how yous educate enthusiastic, inquisitive mathematicians. I'd also similar to take away heed how yous assess Year seven together with at what phase yous make whatsoever baseline assessment. What plant good for you? Please bring together inward #mathscpdchat on Tuesday to allow me know your thoughts.







Book Straightaway For #Summaths

I actually enjoyed running #christmaths events inwards 2015 as well as 2016 but this twelvemonth I'm doing something a chip different. My annual social as well as enrichment resultant for maths teachers has moved to the summertime holidays!

#summaths volition accept house on the Lord's Day of the August banking concern vacation weekend. It's simply earlier close of us showtime the novel schoolhouse year, thus perfect timing to endure inspired.

If you've never been to Bletchley Park earlier as well as thus yous are inwards for a treat. It's bright in that location - I absolutely dear it. I've negotiated discounted entry, addition you'll endure able to attend Enigma workshops spell you're there. Later inwards the solar daytime yous tin forcefulness out catch The National Museum of Computing side yesteryear side door which is total of the close fascinating geekiest materials you'll always see. 

Socialising is an of import purpose of my events! If yous tin forcefulness out rest for the evening, bring together us inwards the pub. It's a banking concern vacation thus no 1 has to wake upwards early on the side yesteryear side morning! Book a room if you're coming from a long agency away - it's less than £50. I'll encounter yous for a hungover breakfast inwards the morning...

All the details tin forcefulness out endure establish at summaths.weebly.com. Book your ticket chop-chop - in that location are exclusively lxxx places available thus I await this to sell out. Everyone welcome!





5 Maths Gems #72

Welcome to my 72nd gems post. This is where I portion about of the latest news, ideas as well as resources for maths teachers.

1. Solve Me Puzzles
Back inwards Gems 17 I shared the first-class Mobiles problems on solveme.edc.org. People got quite excited close these at the time. Thanks to a recent tweet from Daniel Finkel (@MathforLove), I discovered that this website has expanded. The novel section, Who Am I?, consists of hundreds of delightful lilliputian number puzzles which kickoff off slow as well as larn much harder. These are adorable.
The Mystery Grids are also excellent. Do explore - it's a nifty website.

2. Underground Maths
There has been a lot of buzz close Schools Week article as well as attended Maths inwards the Sticks. In instance you lot missed anything, hither are about of my most recent weblog posts:


My 9 - i Revision Resources postal service has been pop lately, reaching almost 20,000 views. Do banking venture stand upward for out my A marker Revision Resources postal service likewise - I've added a few novel activities.

As role of the TES Maths Panel I helped describe together a novel GCSE resources characteristic which is good worth checking out. There are 4 recommended TES resources listed for every unmarried GCSE topic. It's an impressive collection! I intend these pages volition actually speed upward the procedure of finding expert resources.

If you lot desire to come upward to my #summaths number at Bletchley Park hence majority soon! In entirely 3 days I've sold 24 out of eighty tickets. Exciting!